Zuxxez Entertainment announced today that it has opened up registration for a limited beta test of its promising RPG-flavored, real-time strategy game, KnightShift. KnightShift is a real-time strategy game with a heavy emphasis on role-playing. The game even offers a real-time strategy single player campaign, skirmish mode and a series of role-playing chapters offering a number of playable characters.

Mutable Realms announced that it has inked a representation deal with the Themis Group, an international provider of outsourcing and consulting solutions and services to the interactive entertainment industry. Under the terms of the agreement, Themis Group will provide beta test phase services for Mutable Realms' upcoming online role-playing game Wish.

Wish is being billed by Mutable Realms as the first "Ultra Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game" (UMMORPG). Unlike existing MMORPGs that confine players to a server with only a few hundred other players, Wish's highly-scalable server cluster infrastructure allows the game to support tens of thousands of simultaneous players in a single shared world, says the game's developers.

A limited closed Beta for the game will commence in December, 2003, expanding to 10,000 users by early next year. The game is planned for release in Q4 2004

Alawar Entertainment is inviting the gaming community at large a chance to join its beta test team and help test its line-up of budget based PC games. Alawar Entertainment specializes in game software and multimedia projects production, online publishing and software distribution. The company says that beta-testing is a significant part of a game's development and presenting products without any major bugs is important. If you're interested in helping out, email [email protected], and include some info about yourself. Afterwards, Alawar will send you all of the required information.

Nival Interactive announced today that it is now accepting applications for an open beta test of its upcoming adventure-RPG with tactical card based combat Etherlords II. The beta test will be focused on the game's new multiplayer modes and auto rating server. Registration is open to all gamers who are interested in helping the company ensure that Etherlords II offers one of the best online magic combat experiences possible. Beta Testers will be chosen based on their application information, with the ability to play online being the most important consideration.

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"Mrs. Jones, I'm sorry to inform you, but we've run the tests, and it appears that you have XP. Now don't cry - it's bad, but it's not a death sentence. Modern science has advanced in recent years, and it's now possible to live a reasonably happy life with XP. And there's a survivor's group that you'll want to meet as well."

Philippines-based Anino Entertainment announced that it is now accepting applicants for closed beta testing of Anito: Defend a Land Enraged, an upcoming PC role-playing game steeped heavily in Asian myth and Filipino culture. If you are interested, fill out the application form at the beta sign-up page. Beta CDs will be distributed starting in early September.

Big Huge Games is inviting players to help test an upcoming patch for Rise ofNations, the company's popular strategy game. The patch is to make some major additions to the game with the introduction of quickmatch to the company's multiplayer system and address multiplayer connectivity issues that some players have been experiencing. Big Huge Games has also added multiplayer support for mods, scenarios, and scripts, as well as balance changes to some nations and units.

Atari has launched sign-ups for a test of the free Unreal 2 Multiplayer Beta being put together by Legend Entertainment. The multiplayer mode is a class-based team game where players fight for control of artifacts and energy using a deadly arsenal of weaponry, vehicles, and defenses, according to its developers.

Enlight announced today that it has opened up additional beta test slots for its role-playing game flavored strategy title, Joan of Arc title. Joan of Arc allows players to relive and command forces in the Hundred Years War between France and England. The game is scheduled for release this Christmas.. or later.

Joan of Arc showcases a brand new state-of-the-art graphics engine being designed by Trevor Chan and company offering detailed terrain, real-time control and command of legions of military units, realistically depicted medieval warfare and a series of individual battles as well as massive strategic campaigns between French and English troops. Joan of Arc, which is being published by Enlight Interactive, the company's US publishing division, will be shipped to retail stores in late December or January.

DreamCatcher Games today announced that it is accepting applications for the Painkiller Multiplayer Test to help stress test the netcode and playtest maps for People Can Fly's upcoming horror flavored shooter. Interested gamers should fill out the Painkiller application form. This is a closed beta test and seating is limited, so hit the site while you can. DreamCatcher Games will be selecting a team of 200 players from the applicant pool over the next few weeks, and will notify the chosen recipients by email. The test will commence in mid-October.